Sunspots- Saturday February 15th

 Solar flux is 179 and the SSN 111. A=27 and K=3.

The wonder of sunlight - NOT amateur radio

Back in the autumn my wife planted some hyacinth bulbs. She put these in a black sack in the garage  .... and forgot about them!  

When she remembered they were brought into the kitchen where they have thrived.

6m QRP FT8 (Friday)

My IC-705 set at 7W was turned on at 0933z.

UPDATE 0950z:  Spotted by 6 English stations so far.  As I am using the V2000 vertical, I am probably cross-polarized to most serious 6m operators. I imagine if I was using a 6m halo or similar, I could be 20dB stronger on UK stations. I doubt it matters with real 6m DX.

UPDATE 1638z:  Spotted by 21 stations including several Europeans -  Es?

10m QRP WSPR (Friday)

My 500mW beacon was turned on at 0932z.

Map by WSPRrocks Phil VK7JJ

UPDATE 1700z:  Spotted by 25 stations.

Sunspots - Friday February 14th

 Solar flux is 173 and the SSN 112. A=23 and K=3.

Koltur, Faroes - NOT amateur radio

As mentioned before, one of my friends on 365project lives in the Faroe Islands. He takes some great shots of this isolated island group. This is the uninhabited island of Koltur.

Nearly forgot! - 70cms activity contest (February)

Usually I submit my (pathetic!) entry for this activity contest the next day.  My score is always near the bottom as I run low power to a 2m omni antenna and only stop on for about 30 minutes because of my poor voice. I remembered just now. 

I get the feeling interest is waning. 

The map shows the stations worked - all two of them!

Signs of life - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows the path from King's College, Cambridge over the River Cam. It was taken on January 29th. There were already signs of the earth waking up. 

Yesterday, I noticed rooks repairing their nests - soon be spring.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Thursday)

My W5OLF WSPR beacon has been on since just after breakfast. 

UPDATE 1723z:  27 stations spotting me.

6m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

My IC-705 at reduced power (7W) was turned on just after breakfast. So far, at 1000z, 8 English spots of  me.

UPDATE 1730z:  15 English stations spotting me. QRT.